Section Year Robet Tate, 7 1830 Phillip Herring 7 1831 Christian Stukey 7 1832 Peter Stukey 7 1831 Michael Ridenour 7 1829 Griffith John 7 1831 John Stalter 8 1831 George Knittel 8 1829 Wm. Knittel 8 1829 Peter Stuker 8 1830 Wm. Knittel 9 1836 John C. Bowman 9 1837 John Conrad 9 1835 John Stalter 9 1835 Wm. Shope, 9 1833 Thomas Cochran 9 1835 Jacob Teter 9 1834 Jesse Lee Bennett 10 1833 Nicholas Fiss 10 1836 Josiah C. Cochran 10 1834 Thomas Cochran 10 1830 Wm. Bowman 10 1832 Asa Wright 10 1832 Wm. W. Davis 10 1834 Benjamin Dolph 11 1830 Ahab Capron 11 1832 Cyrus Davis 11 1833 Joseph Carpenter 11 1833 Simeon Cochran, Sr. 11 1832 Oliver Ellsworth 11 1832 Simon M. A. Cochran 11 1831 Abraham W. Cochran 11 1832 James Tumer, Sr., 12 1828 Geo. Tising 12 1829 Jane Jackson 12 1829 Elijah Standiford 12 1829 Archibald Fisher 12 1830 Wm. G. Wood 12 1826 Daniel Purdy 12 1826 Richard Hughes 13 1832 Jonathan Lewis 13 1832 James Coins 13 1832 Abraham Brant 13 1832 John C. Sims 13 1835 Wm. Ward 14 1833 Abraham Brant 14 1832 Thos. C. Davis 14 1834 George Ward 14 1835 Griffith John 15 1842 Thomas Rea 15 1834 Edward Armstrong 15 1834 Matthias Ross 15 1842 Asa Wright 15 1832 Geo. D. Long 15 1833 Josiah Crawford 15 1832 Jacob Lakemiller 15 1834 Arthur Stotts 15 1842 Geo. Wagoner 15 1846 Robert Casebolt 15 1834 Phineas Wright 17 1834 John Mullenhour 17 1834 John Sharp 17 1834 Powell Sharp 17 1834 Griffith John 17 1836 John Summersett 17 1833 Jesse Stepleton 17 1833 David Stepleton 17 1833 Giffith John 18 1830 Isaac Boyer 18 1830 Philip Herring 18 1830 William Bryan 18 1830 Samuel Richards 18 1833 Jacob Hartman 18 1832 Henry Hufer 19 1832 Smith Cremean 19 1830 John Lance 19 1834 Michael Noll 19 1833 John Brand 19 1830 Gifford Moore 19 1830 Geo. Povenmire 20 1834 Philip Herring 20 1832 John Brand 20 1830 Gifford Moore 20 1830 Robert Tate 20 1833 John East 21 1832 John Herring 21 1834 John Glentzner 21 1834

Section Year Robert Casebolt 22 1834 Joseph Carpenter 22 1835 Thos. J. Carpenter 22 1833 Jacob Bennett 22 1834 John D. Haffer 22 1834 Henry Foster 22 1833 Samuel Richards 22 1833 James A. Anderson 23 1835 Geo. B. Frye 23 1835 Abelard Guthrie 23 1841 Thos. Cochran 23 1835 William Suttlemire 23 1833 Isaac Kiser 23 1835 Chelsey K. Sims 23 1835 Jonathan Lewis 24 1832 George Mixturn 24 1834 A. M. Bercean 24 1834 E. Kitchen 24 1834 James Vaughn 24 1833 Joseph Richardson 24 1834 Gottlieb Wahl 24 1835 Chelsey K. Sims 24 1835 James McClain 24 1834 Joseph Brown 24 1834 William Ward 24 1831 John H. James 26 1834 Wm. Suttlemire 26 1833 Gillemus Demorest 26 1833 Wm. Jones 26 1833 Jas. A. Anderson 26 1835 Henry R. Moore 26 1833 Samuel Richards 27 1832 Demas Adams 27 1836 Stephen Thomas 27 1834 Curtis Willey 27 1834 Jas. Harper 27 1834 John Brower 28 1833 Henry Reichelderfer 28 1833 Isaac Huffer, Jr. 28 1834 Andrew Kesler 28 1832 Enoch Pearson 28 1832 Demas Adams 28 1836 George Povenmire 29 1832 Andrew Kesler 29 1830 Smith Cremean 29 1833 Jacob Cremean 29 1833 John Reichelderfer 30 1833 Jacob B. Harter 30 1833 Jacob Cremean 30 1834 Christian Dunder 30 1834 Alexander McBride 30 1844 Wm Smith 30 1847 Cyrus Crites 30 1843 Jacob Crites 30 1845 Eli Imler 30 1847 Thomas Greer 31 1835 Charles Ireland 31 1835 Smith Cremean 31 1835 Wm. Verbrick 31 1848 Jeremiah D. Haines 31 1845 Wm. Shoup, Jr. 31 1847 Jeremiah Gleason 31 1844 Issacher Jenkins 32 1832 Thomas Myers 32 1835 Demas Adams 32 1836 Abraham Kessler 32 1834 Peter Apgar 32 1834 John Dills 32 1834 Benjamin Wilson 32 1833 Peter Verbryck 32 1847 David Bryan 32 1833 Thomas Cain 33 1835 Phineas Wright 33 1834 Abigail Wright 33 1834 Eunice Wright 33 1834 Issachar Jenkins 33 1832 Joseph Edwards 33 1833 Francis Sweet 33 1833 Joseph Liezery 33 1834 Joseph Lieser 33 1834 Clarkson Kue 34 1835 George Woodard 34 1834 Nancy Conklin 34 1836 Stephen Thomas 34 1834 Susanna V. VanDolson 34 1835 Joseph Edwards 34 1835 ---

ORGANIZATION

     The Commissioners' Act of December 6, 1831, establishing the township under the name German, decreed that all the territory extending west from Section 3, Town 3, Range 6 to the eastern boundary of the original town of Amanda, south to the county line; thence east to southeast corner of Section 33, Town 6, Range 6, and thence north to Section 3, Town 3, Range 6, - the place of beginning, - should be organized as a separate township.  In March, 1833, the boundaries of the township were extended, and the town regularly organized.  John Brand, William Bowman, and Samuel Richards were elected Trustees; Griffith John, Clerk, and John Ireland, Justice of the Peace.  The Justices of this township, previous to the reorganization of 1848, were John Ireland, 1833; Asa Wright, 1834; Isaac Bowyer, 1837, who served until his death in 1842; Charles Crites, 1843 - 49.  In December, 1834, it was decreed that as much of original Town 4 south, Range 5 east, as previously belonged to German, should be attached to Amanda.  At the same

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time, when the town lines of Bath and Jackson were altered, the two tiers of eastern sections of Town 3, Range 6, were added to German.  In February, 1848, the north tier of sections of German were attached to the south-half of Sugar Creek Township, leaving oly thirty sections belonging to German.  This area was further reduced in May, 1857, when 1,040 acres were taken from Sections 25, 35, and 36, and attached to the new town of Ottawa, still leaving the township an area of 18,160 acres.

SCHOOLS.

     It is said that David Ridenonr was the pioneer school teacher of German Township in 1883.  In 1834-35 a schoolhouse was erected on the Thomas Cochran farm, in which Asa Wright taught school.  There is a question whether John Summerset preceded or followed Wright in charge of this school.  In 1837 John Bowman presided over a school in Section 16.  In 1838 John Custer taught school in Allentown.  The growth of educational interests in this township is shown in the following statistics for 1884: Revenue in 1884 was $3,589.14; expenditure $2,414.31.  There are seven school buildings.  The number of pupils is 281 —151 boys and 130 girls.  The statistics of the Elida Special District show that the receipts for 1884 amounted to $3,284.13, the expenditure to $2,053.23.  The number of pupils enrolled was 143 —76 boys and 67 girls.  There is one school building valued at $10,000 with grounds, etc., one gentleman and two ladies presided over the schools during the year.  John Davison is superintendent.

ELIDA VILLAGE

     Elida was platted in 1852 by Griffith John, on Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, German Township.  The original town comprised a tract of land known as Lots 1 to 18 north of Main Street, and Lots 19 to 38 west of the Allentown Road south of Main Street.  The first addition or Lots 39 to 93 was partly laid out southwest of the original town along the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R.; Lots 39 to 55, partly north of the original town south of North Street; Lots 56 to 76, and partly southeast of the R. R.; Lots 77 to 93.  The North Add. lies along the north line of North Street. Within the village boundaries, the following citizens own acre lots:  D. L. Crites, Henry Kiracofe, Jesse J. John, Askins & Bros., George

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W. Moore, J. Newton, John Abia, James Morris, W. F. Brenneman, John Mumagh, Charles B. Rice and John Irvin.
     It is stated by Mr. Harrison, that Daniel Myers erected the first building in Elida after it was laid out, except the Luteran Church.  The contract was let at $90, to be completed from the stump at taht.  The siding is of the finest black walnut and is well preserved.  This building formerly stood on Main Street, but was moved to a back street to make room for what is now known as Moore's Hall.  Mr. Myers occupied part of the building as a residence, and carried on the first grocery business in the town in the other part.
     The Postmasters of Elida were Dr. Hartley, Dr. Anderson and Dr. Rice.  In 1883, Albert Steman was commissioned Postmaster.
     The village was incorporated in 1878.  R. R. Murray was elected Mayor.  In November, 1878, Mr. Murray tendered his resignation, when R. Rice was appointed President, and in February, 1879, Mr. John Sherick was chosen Mayor; j. W. Kindel served as Clerk.  The Council comprised R. Rice, G. R. Leist, W. N. Sherry, Askins, Morris, W. H. Clark.
     In April, 1879, J. W. Sherrick was elected Mayor; W. N. Sherry, R. Rice, G. R. Leist, W. H. Clark, Askins and Henry Kiracofe were chosen Councilmen.
     In 1880, Alvin Davis, H. M. Sherrick and Daniel Myers were elected Councilmen; W. N. Sherry, Mayor, and S. S. Sherrick, Clerk.
     IN 1881, S. A. Hitchcock, H. M. Sherrick and Henry Kiracofe were elected Councilmen; William Steman, Marshal.  In 1882, W. N. Sherry was elected Mayor; S. S. Sherrick, Clerk; H. M. Sherrick, Alvin Davis and Daniel Myers were chosen Councilmen.
     In 1883, S. D. Crites, G. R. Leist, H. Kiracofe and S. A. Hitchcock were elected Councilmen; J. J. John, Treasurer; W. A. Stemen, Marshal; S. S. Sherrick, Clerk; W. N. Sherry, Mayor.
     In 1884, Henry Pfeifer, Mayor; S. S. Sherrick, Clerk; S. D. Crites, Alvin Davis and W. N. Sherry, councilmen.  In August the Mayor resigned, but his resignation was not accepted at date of last record.

SCHOOLS.

     Elida separate school district was organized Jan. 11, 1868, under the act of 1867.  D. L. Crites, J. J. John, and Charles Crites consti-

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CHURCHES.

 

 

 

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ALLENTOWN VILLAGE

     Allentown on Section 29, German Township, was platted in 1835 by William Myers and George Povenmyre.  The village is on the east bank of the Ottawa River, which runs at an angle of about twenty degrees.  The streets follow the angle thus formed.  Here the old bed or southern bend was changed into a new channel.  The acre tracts outside the original  town are Neelys, Fraunfelters, Blackburns, Benedom, Kesslers, Harringtons and Dennis.  William Myers opened a store, the first at Allentown, in 1835.  A church building was erected here in 1840; a tannery established by Albert Clippinger in 1842, which must be considered the pioneer of the manufacturing industries of the village at present.  In 1862 a schoolhouse was erected, being preceded by the Methodist house of worship in 1848, and the United Brethern building in 1854.

CHURCHES.